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NIKONOS IIINSTRUCTION MANUAL

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The Nikonos II amphibious camera is buillt to gowith you wherever your imagination leads you.Underwater, it performs at depths down to 160feet (50m) without a bulky accessory housing. Onland, it takes rain, snow, dust, dirt and salt waterin stride. If you can take it, so can the Nilonos.Despite its rugged construction, the Nikonos II isas sleek and compact as other 35mm cameras.Precision engineering and superior Nikkor opticsdeliver perfect images in places where othercameras wouldnÕt dare to venture. And when

youÕve finished your shooting session, just rinsethe Nikonos in tap water and itÕs ready for thenext assignment. To get the best results fromyour camera, read these instructions carefullyand pratice using the controls before you loadany film in the camera. Keep this booklet handyfor ready reference until you have mastered itsbasics. The few minutes you spend familiarizingyourself with the camera will increase your picture-taking pleasure as you explore a wholenew world of photography.

A good rinse after oneassignment and itÕsready for the next.FOREWARD

CONTENTS

Camera Design 4Loading the Camera 8

Opening the CameraLoadingClosing the Camera

Film Advancement and Shutter Release 14Film-Advance LeverFrame CounterSafety Lock

How to Hold the Camera 16Viewfinder 17

Underwater ViewEinderFocusing 18Exposure Control 19

Setting the Shutter SpeedSetting the ApertureDepth of FieldDepth-of-Field Indicator

Flash Synchronization 24Unloading 25Tips for Underwater Picture-Taking 26Interchangeable Lenses 29Accessories 30Features/Specifications 32

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CAMERA DESIGN

O-Ring GasketAll joints of the Nikonos are sealed by means of O-ring gaskets. These synthetic rubber rings insure absolute watertiahtness and can withstandwater pressure at depths down to 160 feet (50m)Ñ as deep as you can divewith Scuba equipment. As pressure increases, the seal becomes eventighter.Occasional lubrication improves the life of the gaskets and makes attaching and removing the lens easier. Make it a practice to lubricate the camera before each underwater picture-taking expedition using thelubricant supplied with the camera for this purpose.The gaskets should be protected froÕ cuts or scratches caused by sharpobjects or grains of sand. Whenever they appear the least bit worn, theyshould be replaced. Spare gaskets for the base of the lens and around thetop edge of the interior body are furnished with the Nikonos.

Note: Replacement of all gaskets except theones on the lens and around the top edge of the interior body should be left to an authorized serviceman Send the camera to an authorized dealer or distributor, or directly to the manufacturer.

The Nikonos II consists of three components which fit together snugly to make this a selfcontained,watertight camera without any need for a separate bulky underwater housing. Outer housing: Die-cast from thick aluminum alloy and finished in a knurled surface thatÕs easy togrip, even with wet hands or gloves.Interior body: Contains the shutter, film advance lever and other moving parts. Removable for filmloading.Lens: When mounted in place, the lens locks the entire camera assembly together, safe from accidentally jarring loose.Note: The Nikonos is watertight only when completely assembled. The components are susceptibleto damage individually. If the interior body or lens is accidentally dropped into salt water or muddywater, rinse it immediately in fresh water and take it to an authorized serviceman as soon as possible.

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CAMERA DESIGNOuter housing

Strap-Attachment LeversAlso used to pry open.

Frame CounterIndicates the number of framesexposed.

Tripod SocketRemoveable for flash contacts.

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Interior body Safety LockLocks the film advance lever toguard againts accidental exposure.

Safety LockLocks the film advance lever toguard againts accidental exposure.Shutter-Speed DialClick-stopped settings from 1/30to 1/500 second plus ÒBÓ. ÒRÓ isrewind setting.

SpoolRewind Shank

Film Cartridge Catch

Film-Pressure PlateHinged at the top.

ViewfinderFor use with the 35mmlens on land. Parallaxindicators for close-upshooting.

Accessory ShoeAccepts sports-typeviewfinder or flash unit (on land only)

Rewind Crank andRewind Knob

Shutter Curtain

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LensThe Nikonos 1I comes fitted with a W-Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 lens as standardequipment The lens is sealed behind awatertight glass plate that also covers theaperture and distance scales. Large,easy-togrip knobs on either side of thelens mount control focus and diaphragmsettings. The front lens mount is threadedto accept lens hoods, close-up lensattachment and 52mm screw-in filters.

A UW-Nikkor 15mm f/2.8 28mm f/3.5 (bothfor underwater use only) and Nikkor80mm f/4 are also available (see p. 29,30). Lenses for the Nikonos 11 aredesigned so that their lens mounts moveindependently of the inner mechanisms.This helps to absorb the effect of waterpressure when the lenses are used underwater.

Distance ScaleGraduated in feet and meters.

Depth-of-Feild IndicatorRed pointers show the near and far limits ofsharpness at preselected aperture.

Aperture-Control KnobControls diaphragm aperture settings andautomatically operates the depth-of-feild indicator.

Aperture ScaleF/stops line up with triangular index mark.

Focusing KnobTurn to set the measuredor estimated camera-to-subject distance.

Positioning PinFits groove on the bayonet mount to hold the lens in place.

Groove

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LOADING THE CAMERA

Opening the CameraThe lens in its bayonet mount locks the entire camera together, so it must beremoved first in order to open the camera. Grasp the lens mount and pull thelens forward slightly until the positioning pins on the lens mount slide out ofthe grooves on the bayonet mount. Then rotate the lens in either direction untilthe focusing knob or aperture knob points straight up. Pull once more and thelens will slip free of the bayonet mount. Now you can open the camera by prying up the interior body with the strap-attachment levers on both sides ofthe outer housing. The interior body will come loose and can be lifted out.

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Caution: After using the camera in saltwater, or if it is dirty, rinse it thoroughly infresh running water to remove any dirt orsalt water residue and dry with a softcloth before opening. Never dry thecamera near heat.

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LOADING THE CAMERA

LoadingLift up the film pressure plate. Position a film cartridgebetween the film cartridRe catch and the shank of the rewindknob. Turn the film take-up spool to the right so the slot facesout. Slip the end of the film leader under the hinged pressureplate and insert it into the slot. Advance the film one frame,making sure that the tooth in the slot catches one of the perforations along the edge of the film.

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Closing the CameraThe procedure for closing the Nikonos is just the reverseof that for opening the camera. Hold down the film pressure plate and slide the interior body into the outerhousing. Press down firmly until the top edge of the interior body fits tightly against the top edge of the outerhousing.

Caution: Be careful not to exert excessive pressureon the shutter-speed dial when inserting the interiorbody into the housing.

Place the lens in the bayonet mount with thefocusing knob pointing towards the top. Pushthe lens inward and twist it clockwise until thedistance scale comes to the top and the positioning pins click into the grooves.

Note: The lens can also be mounted upside down forgreater convenience in reading the distance scale whenthe camera is carried on a neck strap. If the lens cannotbe mounted smoothly luhricate the O-ring gasket aroundthe lens base.

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Set the shutter-speed dial for any speed except ÒRÓ. Fold outthe rewind crank and pull up the rewind knob as far as it will go.Continue to pull up on the rewind crank while turning it backand forth until the rewind knob locks in place and cannot bepushed down. This meshes the rewind knob with its shank.Now turn the rewind crank gently in the direction of the arrowuntil you feel a slight tension which indicates that there is no

slack in the film cartridge. Be careful not to exert toomuch pressure on the crank.

LOADING THE CAMERA

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Loading exposes a portion of film. To dispose of this exposedportion, take two blank exposures. Squeeze the filmadvancelever slightly so that it springs forward then push down the safety lock and squeeze the film advance lever twice (see alsop.14) to dispose of the exposed portion of the film. Whileadvancing the film check to see that the rewind crank turns inthe direction opposite the arrow. This will indicate that the filmhas been loaded correctly and is being advanced.

Turn the rewind knob in the direction opposite the arrow and itwill drop back to its recessed position. When not in use, therewind crank should be folded flat with its end pointing towardsthe front of the camera.

Note: If the film-advance lever is squeezed while the safety lock is off, theshutter will be released and the frame counter wiH advance one frame. Theframe counter will not rest at 1 when the first exposure is made.

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Film-Advance LeverThis single lever on top of the camera winds the film cocksand releases the shutter and operates the frame counter all intwo simple operations. To wind the film squeeze the lever untilit stops with a click. This also cocks the shutter and operatesthe frame counter. When you are ready to shoot, squeeze the lever again and it releases the shutter and operates theframe counter. After each exposure the lever swings out automatically, ready to be wound for the next frame.

FILM ADVANCEMENT AND SHUTTER RELEASE

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Frame CounterThe frame counter located on the bottom of the camera shows how many frames havebeen exposed. A black dot advances half a mark for each frame up to 36 exposures.The counter stops just past the 36 mark and resets itself to zero when the camera isopened.

Safety LockBetween pictures, push down the safety lock on top of the camera to guard against accidental exposures. The safety lock should also be pressed down whenever the camera is stored in the leather case to prevent the filmadvance lever from swinging out.

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Camera shake is one of the commonest causes of unsharppictures, especially at slow shutter speeds. Learn to hold thecamera correctly and practice steady shutter squeezing, Thephotos show the best way to hold the Nikonos for sharp picture-taking.

Grasp the camera firmly so that the end of the baseplate restscomfortably in the palm of the left hand. Wrap your right handaround the camera with the right index finger resting on thefilm advance lever. Position the camera solidly so the eyelooks through the center of the viewfinder and steady it withboth hands held against the head. The camera may beswitched from a horizontal to vertical format in this position.

Underwater, weightlessness makes steady camera holdingeven more difficult than on land. Concentrate on steadinesseven at fast shutter speeds.

HOW TO HOLD THE CAMERA

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VIEWFINDER

The Nikonos 1I has a built-in bright-line viewfinder on top of the camera for use on land. The viewfinder image corresponds to the picture area of the 35mm lens. At a camera-to-subject distance as close as 2.75 feet (0.8m), however, a slight parallax is evident. In this case, composewith the aid of the parallax indicator lines in the viewfinder tosee what the final picture will include.

Note: An accessory viewfinder for use with the 80mm lens on land is available separately.

Underwater ViewfinderA sports-type viewfinder slides into the accessory shoe on topof the camera for underwater photography. Individualviewfinders are available for each of the interchangeable lenses. They indicate the edges of the picture area and havecrossbars to show the center of the frame. Underwaterviewfinders are also useful on land for following fast-movingaction. For details refer to the instructions supplied with theunderwater viewfinders.

Picture seen in viewfinder

Picture to appear on film

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FOCUSING

Since the Nikonos II has no optical rangefinder, camerato-subject distances are normally estimated. Thedepthof-field indicator on the distance scale shows just howmuch error you can tolerate and still get sharp pictures Since the 35mm lens has considerable depth of field,a reasonable estimate will usually result in sharp pictures.Remember too that as the camera-to-subject distanceincreases (and becomes harder to estimate), the depth offield also increases, thus lowering the chance of error. (Seealso ÒDepth of Field,Ó p. 22).

Turn the focusing knob on the right side of the lens mount untilthe estimated distance appears opposite the white triangularindex mark. As long as the subject remains within the limits ofsharpness shown by the red pointers on the distance scale, itis in sharp focus. Depth of field decreases sharply at distances closer than 5 feet (1.5m), so it is good practice tostop down the lens to the smallest possible aperture or elsemeasure the actual distance when shooting close-ups. Theclosest distance at which the 35mm lens can be focused is2.75 feet (0.8m).

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EXPOSURE CONTROL

The amount of exposure the film receives is determined by a combination of shutter speed and aperture. The larger the lens aperture, the more exposure. Likewise, the slower the shutter speedthe greater the exposure. Aperture is expressed in f/numbers withlarger numbers representing smaller apertures and vice versa. Forexample, f/8 gives twice as much exposure as f/11.

Camera aperture and shutter-speed controls are calculated so that anincrease of one f/number compensates for a onestep decrease inshutter speed. For example, 1/250 second at f/4 is the same as 1/60second at f/8. The table below shows how aperture and shutter speedare interrelated. All the combinations give the same exposure.

The choice of aperture and shutter-speed combination depends onthe desired results. Use a fast shutter speed to freeze move~ent or aslow one to create deliberate blur. Small apertures give greater depthof field, large ones make the main subject stand out in sharp focusand throw unimportant background out of focus.

Aperture f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11

Shutter Speed 1/500 1/250 1/125 1/60 1/30(Second)

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EXPOSURE CONTROL

Setting the Shutter SpeedThe f1gures on the shutter-speed dial stand for fractions of a second. For example, 125 represents 1/125 second. Turn theshutter speed dial until the desired speed appears opposite thewhite indicator dot on the film advance lever. You can changeshutter speeds either before or after the shutter is wound.

Click-stopped settings for speeds from 1/30 to 1/500 second plusÒBÓ are engraved on the dial. At the ÒBÓ setting the shutter willremain open as long as the f1lmadvance lever is squeezed allthe way back. The number Ò60Ó is colored red as a reminder that1/60 second is the highest speed at which electronic flash willsynchronize. The ÒRÓ setting is used when rewinding the film.Intermediate settings between the marked shutter speeds are notrecommended.

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Setting the ApertureThe aperture-control knob on the left side of the lens mount controlsdiaphragm settings and operates the depth-offield indicator on the distancescale. Turn the knob until the desired f/number appears opposite the white triangular index mark. A white arrow leading from the aperture knob to theaperture scale makes identification of the knob easy.

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EXPOSURE CONTROL

Depth of FieldDepth of field refers to a zone extending in front of and behindthe plane of sharpest focus. It extends a greater distancebehind the subject in focus than in front. Within this zone, blur(or unsharpness of the image) is negligible and everything canbe accepted as being in sharp focus. Depth of field dependson three factors: foca1 length of the lens, lens-to-subject distance and taking aperture. The smaller the aperture and theshorter the focal length of the lens, the greater the depth offield (for example, wideangle lenses have more depth of fieldthan telephotos). Also, the closer the subject, the smaller thedepth of field. These three factors can operate independentlyor in conjunction with one another and one factor may act topartially cancel the effect of the others.

1. Lens at fuH aperture Small depth of field with only main subject in focus.

2. Lens at smaHest aperture Great depth of field with suhject, backgroundand foreground in focus.

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Depth-of-Field IndicatorDepth of field can be read directly from the distance scale in either feet or meters with the aid of the depthof-field indicator coupled to the lens aperture control. As you change aperture settings, two red pointers move over the distancescale automatically to indicate the near and far limits of sharpness at each aperturesetting. For example, with the 35mm lens focused at 10 feet (3m) and set at f/16, thepointers show that the depth of field extends from about 5 feet (1.5m) to infinity (°).

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FLASH SYNCHRONIZATION

The Nikonos II is designed to synchronize with almost all types offlashbulbs at all shutter speeds and with electronic flash at speedsup to 1/60 second. The synchro socket on the camera baseplatehas an FP contact for use with type M, FP and MF flashhulbs andan X contact for electronic flash. The table below shows whichshutter speeds may be used with different types of flashbulbs.

An accessory flash unit adapter makes possible the use of a regular flash unit or electronic flash on land. Slide the flash unit into the accessory shoe on top of the camera. Unscrew the tripodsocket and screw in the flash unit adapter in its place. Connect thesynchro cord to the flash contact on the adapter.For underwater photography, an underwater flash unit is available.Refer to the instruction manual supplied with the unit for details.Caution: Do not submerge the camera in water with the tripod socket unscrewedunless the underwater flash connector is securely fastened

Contact Flashbulb Shutter Speed500 250 125 60 30 B

M

FP

MF

Electronic Flash

FP

X

: Synchonized : Cannot be used

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UPLOADING

Set the shutter-speed dial at ÒRÓ (rewind), and pull therewind knob up all the way. Unfold the rewind crank andturn it in the direction of the arrow with a gentle, even pressure. Avoid uneven or excessively fast rewinding.When no more tension is felt, the film has left the takeupspool and the camera may be opened.

Note: If the rewind crank will not turn, squeeze the film advance leverslightly.

Caution: Never unload the camera underwater.

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TIPS FOR UNDERWATER PICTURE-TAKING

Successful underwater photography depends on several factorswhich have no effect on landÑclarity of the water, angle of the sun,etc. But with a little practice and experimentation you can learn toget good results consistently. The following are some hintsdesigned to help beginners improve their underwater pictures.

VisibilityUnderwater visibilityÑthe distance from a diver at which underwa-ter objects are no longer discernibleÑvaries depending on sever-al factors, mainly particles suspended in the water. Visibilitydecreases as camera-to-subject distance increases, so move in asclose to your subjects as possible. Shooting at closer distances willalso make colors more lifelike and improve sharpness and con-trast.

FocusingOptical distances in air do not correspond to true distances inwater since the refractive index of water differs from that of air. Thishas the effect of increasing the focal length of the lens and nar-rowing the picture angle underwater by a ratio of 4 to 3. For prac-ti~al purposes, this makes no difference since both the photogra-pher and his lens are influenced by refraction and will ÒseeÓ alikeunderwater. However, when distances are actually

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measured, the distance scale should be set at 3/4 the measureddistance to compensate. For example, to focus the lens on anobject 10 feet (3m) away, set the distance scale to 10 x 3/4 or 7.5feet (2.2m).

ExposureFor accurate exposures underwater, an exposure meter in awatertight case is recommended. If a meter is unavailable, however, the following procedure will generally give satisfactoryresults: first measure the light above water. Use this exposuresetting for depths up to three feet(lm) and open up the lens onefull stop for each additional three feet.Whenever possible, avoid pointing the camera straight down.Since the light source is behind the camera, illumination is flatand contrast is poor. For best picture quality, try to shoot horizontally.Asdepthincreases, light falls off rapidly. Therefore flash may benecessary at depths of 20 feet (6m) or more, espe cially withcolor films.To compensate forlightloss underwater,daylightguidenumbers for flashunits mustbeadjusted according to experience.Some experimentation will usually yield the correct adjustmentfor a particular unit.

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TIPS FOR UNDERWATER PICTURE-TAKING

When the flash reflector is positioned at or near the camera,particles suspended in the water will be illuminated sharplyand will appear in the final print or transparency as white, out-of-focus blotches. Hold the flash unit away from the camera,as close to the subject as possible.

FilmGenerally, the choice of what f1lm to use for underwater pho-tography will be guided by the same considerations as in ordi-nary photography. When underwater visibility is poor, howev-er, faster films are a must.

FiltersRed is absorbed rapidly underwater, resulting in pictures withan overall greenish or bluish cast. To avoid this effect withcolor film, use an amber filter such as A2 or A12. With black-and-white film, try sharp-cut series filters like Y44, Y48, Y52or 056. These filters improve contrast by cutting underwaterhaze and absorbing colors that spoil the effect of black-and-white photos.

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INTERCHANGEABLE LENSES

UW-Nikkor 28mm f/3.5Designed exclusively for underwater use, this wideangle lens is corrected for maximum sharpness underwater. The distance scale ismarked in optical distances in water instead of true distances. Pictureangle underwater is a wide 59 degrees, and excellent depth of fieldmakes focusing easy. Supplied with a plastic lens protector.Underwater viewfinder for exclusive use with lens is also availableseparately.Picture Angle: 59¡ (underwater)Construction: 6 elements in 5 groups Minimum Aperture: f/22Distance Scale: Graduated in feet and meters down to 2 ft (0.6m).

Nikkor 80mm f/4The Nikkor 80mm f/4 has a picture angle of 22 degrees underwater(30¡22Õ on land) and adds a telephoto capability to the Nikonos II.Individual viewfinders are available for use underwater and on land.Picture Angle: 22¡ (underwater) 30¡22Õ (on land) Construction: 4 elements in 4 groupsMinimum Aperture: f/ 22Distance Scale: Graduated in feet and meters down to 3 ft (1m).

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INTERCHANGEABLE LENS / ACCESSORIES

UW-Nikkor 15mm f/2.8The UW-Nikkor 1 Smm f/2.8 is designed as a super wideangle lensto be used exclusively underwater, and it performs at depths down to160ft (50m).The image aberrations being corrected exclusively for underwateruse, the lens provides excellent underwater photographs. By usingthe viewfinder available as accessory, an exact sighting will beobtained.Picture Angle: 94Construction: 9 elements in 5 groups Minimum Aperture: f/22Distance Scale: Graduated in feet and meters down to 1ft (0.3m).

Underwater Flash Unit: Specifically designed for underwater usewith the Nikonos camera, the Flash Unit permits the use of an FP-Class bulb with Single Contact Bayonet base. The Unit can alsobe used apart from the camera.AG-Bulb Adapter: Allows AG-type flashbulbs to be used with theunderwater flash unit.O-Ring Lubricant: The cameraÕs O-rin~gaskets should be lubricated frequently. A tube of lubricant is supplied with the camera,together with an extra set of gaskets.

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Lens Hoods: The use of a lens hood is recommended atall times to prevent extraneous light from striking the lenssurface and as an added measure of protection. Screwinlens hoods are available for the 35mm and 80mm lenses.A rubber hood is also available for the 35mm lens. The lenshoods fit directly over the 52mm screw-in filters so bothunits can be used on a lens at the same time. Front LensCap: Fits the 28mm, 35mm and 80mm lenses.Rear Lens Cap: The water-tight rear cap should beattached whenever the lens is stored separately. Fits the28mm, 35mm and 80mm lensesSemisoft Leather Case: Water-repellent, treated to resistmildew and fungus and fitted with a corrosion-proof zipper,the camera case accommodates the Nikonos with eitherthe 35mm or 28mm lens attached.Close-Up Outfit: Consists of a close-up attachment lens,three field frames for the 28mm, 35mm and 80mm lenses,and a bracket. Can be used as a focusing guide with the35mm and 80mm lenses on land. Underwater, the areadefined by the frame will be in sharp focus at a distance of235mm (9.3 in )Refer to the instruction manual supplied with the closeupoutfit for details.

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35mm amphibious camera. Negative size 24 x 36mm (about 1Óx 1-1/2Ó). Accepts standard 20- or 36-exposure cartridges.

W-Nikkor 35mm f/2.5 supplied as standard lens. 6-element 4-groupconfiguration. Picture angle 62¡ (46.5¡ underwater). Focusing from2.75 feet (0.8m)in air to infinity.

Click-stopped settings for f/2.5, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16 and 22. Aperture isset by knob on side of lens, read on lens front. Read directly on distance scale by means of two red pointers coupled to the lensaperture control.

Focal-plane type with vertical movement. Click-stopped speedsfrom 1/30 to 1/500 second plus ÒBÓ engraved on shutter speed dial.Shutter cocking and releasing by two strokes of film advance lever.

Zone focusing with large, easy-to-read depth-of-field indicator onlens front.

Albada-type viewfinder for use on land has bright frame corresponding to 35mm lens coverage, parallax correction cornermarks for close-up composition. Accessory sportsfinders availablefor underwater use.

Camera type

Lens

Aperture scale

Shutter

Focusing

Viewfinder

NIKONOS II FEATURES / SPECIFICATIONS

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73¡ stroke of film-advance lever advances the film and cocks the shutter and operates the frame counter.Lift-up type rewind crank. ÒRÓ setting on shutter speed dial is rewindposition.Hinged to facilitate f1lm loading.Synchronizes with almost all types of flashhulbs at all speeds and withelectronic flash at speeds up to 1/60 second. Watertight socket housesFP and X contacts. Indicates number of frames exposed up to 36, resets itself automatically when camera is opened for reloading.Impregnated aluminum alloy die casting. Three-piece construction(outer housing, interior body, lens) sealed against water and pressure byO-ring gaskets. Accepts sportsfinders and other accessories. Located on camera bottom. Has synch socket inside and can bereplaced with gun connector for use with ordinary flash or speedlightunits on land.3.9Ó x 5.1iÕx 1.9Ó (99mm x 129mm x 47mm) 20 oz (540 gr)

Film advance

Film rewind

Film -pressure plateFlash synchronization

Frame counter

Camera Body

Accessory shoeTripod socket

Dimensions (body only)Weight (body only)